Fanfare for 2 Reviewed By Dr. Wesley Britton of Bookpleausres.com

Dr. Wesley Britton

Reviewer Dr. Wesley
Britton: Dr. Britton is the author of four non-fiction books on
espionage in literature and the media. Starting in fall 2015, his new
six-book science fiction series, The Beta-Earth Chronicles, debuted
via BearManor Media. For seven years, he was co-host of online
radio’s Dave White Presents where he contributed interviews with a
host of entertainment insiders. Before his retirement in 2016, Dr.
Britton taught English at Harrisburg Area Community College. Learn
more about Dr. Britton at hisWEBSITE

I’ve been a fan of John
York’s for some time. As I noted in my June 2011 review of his West
Coast Revelation, York was an in-demand touring musician who traveled
with Johnny Rivers and the Mamas and Papas. Then, he joined the Byrds
during their “Easy Rider” and “Jesus is Just Alright”
country/rock period. Over the years, he’s worked in various
re-groupings of ex-Byrds, toured with Barry (“Eve of Destruction”)
McGuire, and released solo projects for Global Recording Artists.
West Coast Revelation was one of these solo works, a unique
collaboration with the legendary Kim Fowley.

Fanfare for 2 is a smaller
scale effort than Revelation, although it too shows how York’s
musical experiences have jelled into his current songwriting and
performing. You can still hear echoes of the second generation Byrds
in his music but, like many a “roots” singer/songwriter these
days, there’s a world weariness both in his lyrics and vocal
delivery.

In particular, York’s
strained, aching vocals perfectly suit the melancholy acoustic
folk/country ballads in Fanfare about down and out characters
portrayed in a variety of settings. For example, “”Half Moon Bay”
is about the sinking of a sailing ship where only one of 17 sailors
survive. “Lone Wolf, No Club” is about a lonely night rider, and
“Coyote” describes an equally lonesome creature calling out to
the singer. Some songs are very personal, like the lost love
described in “I Feel It Now,” while others are more philosophic
like “Red, White & Blue” which is a haunting portrait of a
country that always rewards the rich while waging war.

All of the instrumental
support is appropriately lean and spare, with no drums, keyboards,
and little of anything electric. “Sea Of Wine” is old-time
country where dancing helps end loneliness, and York offers bluesy
slide guitar on “You Just Love Cocaine.” The tone shifts with the
affirming “Power Of Now” where York sings “all we need is now.”
York gets even warmer with his cover of The Four Tops’ “Reach Out
(I'll Be There).” But, in short order, we’re back to sad songs.
The album closes with “Setup for Heartbreak,” and the title says
it all.

Fanfare for 2 is a simple,
beautiful album where singer and songs are perfectly matched. If
you’re a fan of Leonard Cohen, Dylan, Ian Tyson and all those other
folkies, John York will likely be your cuppa tea. John York doesn’t
get a lot of fanfare, but he shouldn’t be overlooked especially
when he’s issuing work of such quality.